Acetylene-lamp.



J. D. CUIVIMING.

ACETYLENE LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.I8. Isle.

JAMES BEANS CUMMING, 0F COPPER CLIIEF, ONTARIO, CANADA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 191i?.

Application filed August 18, 1916. Serial No. 115,738.

17 1o all vLU/lima t may concern Be it known that l, JAMES DnANs GUM# mine. of the town of Copper Cli, in the district of Sudbury, in the YProvince oli-Ontario. Canada,liave invented certain new and use'lul lmprovenients in Acetylene-Lamps, of which the following is the specification.

My invention relates to vimprovements in acetylene lamps, and the object of the in-l vention is to devise a lamp in which thc automatic regulation of the amount of gas generated obtains and in which the amount of gas so generated is controlled within narrow limits, in whichl any acetylene gas that may be generated over and above that required by the llame is conducted by auxiliary passages to the burner and ignited by the flame to consume and not allowed to escape unburned into the atmosphere, in which the lamp is so constructed that the main gas passage is straight from end to end and so that it may be opened at both ends for the purpose of cleaning out dirt and wet ash which tends to accumulate in and clog such passagesa in which the main gas passage is so arranged that a portion of its length shall be surrounded by water to cool and condense the steam or vapor that may be in the freshly generated acetylene gas due to the heat developed by the chemical union of the water and calcium carbid. A still further object is to provide a head so formed as to project the flame in a direction approximately horizontal so that a reflector may be used, and further to provide a reliector so supported as to swing around a point coinciding with the focal point of the reflector and it consists essentially of the following arrangement and construction of parts as hereinafter more particularly explained by the following" specication.

Figure 17 is a vertical section through my lamp and co-acting parts.

Fig. 2, is an enlarged sectional view through the head portion of the lamp.

Fig. 3./l is a plan section on line m-y Fig. Q.

Fig. l., is a side elevation of the lamp head showing a portion of the reflector supported thereby and in section.

Fig. 5, is a similar view of Fig. Q showing an alternative form of head.

Fig. 6, is a plan section on line @eV-Jy Fig. 1.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

ln operating the lamp acetylene gas is generated by the chemical action of water on calcium carbid, the resulting products being acetylene gas and calcium hydrate or hydrated lime. Calcium hydrate forms a wet ash and acetylene gas is conducted by various means to the burner or burners where it is consumed to provide light. icetylene gas is an explosive in air or oxygen and when present in sullicient quantities is a danger to the health and comfort of human beings. For this reason it is essential that in acetylcnc lamps means are provided whereby no gas shall be allowed to escape except through the burner and it is for this purpose my lamp is so constructed as to prevent the escape of gas except as above stated and to insure that gas generated shall be available for the production of light. For the operation of acetylene lamps of this nature it is usually neces sary to produce a reflector whereby light may be directed and concentrated where required and it is necessary to provide some simple means whereby this end may be attained.

1 indicates a water tanl; containing a generating device consisting of a casing 9. forming a carbid chamber 3 and a gas chamber 3X. The carbid chamber 3 is provided with a head which is preferably in the form of a casting consisting of a circular body 3 and a depending angular flange 32 ittinginto the top of the carbid holder casing 2. 33 indicates a boss extending upwardly from the body 3 and formed with an interior chamber 34 through the upper wall of which an intern ally threaded orifice ,35 extends and through the lower wall of which the orifice 3 formed concentric with the oriiice 35 and the internally threaded orifice 37 formed out of a line with the orifice 35 extend. 38 indicates an annular flange extending around the lower end of theorilice 3f5 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

10 indicates a gas pipe for the purpose of conducting the gas from the carbid chamber 3. The lower end of the pipe 10 eX- tends centrally through the orifice 35 and into the orifice 3*S in which it is secured. 13 indicates an elbow forming the lamp head. The elbow 13 is provided with a vertical orifice 13X around the lower end of which depends an annular fiange 13 into which the upper end of the pipe 10 extends and is secured. The upper end of the orifice 13X is provided with a closing plug 132.

On referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen thact the lower end of the orifice 13X is enlarged so as to form an annular chamber 133 around the pipe 10. The horizontal portion of the elbow 13 is provided with a central orifice 134 provided with a considerably enlarged outer portion 135. 17 indicates my burner which is secured in the enlarged end 135 of the orifice 134 and is surrounded by a packing gland 13G and packing 137 whereby the joint between the internal periphery of the orifice 135 and the burner is sealed. The

y body 17X of the burner 17 is provided with lar Hangs 174 with the space inclosed by the annular flange 172.

21 indicates a pipe provided with threaded ends screwed respectively into the orifice 175 and orifice 134. 20 indicates a duct connecting the annular space 133 with the annular space 135 formed by the enlarged portion of the orifice 134 and the pipe 21. 23 indicates a gas pipe which is screwed at its upper end into the orifice 37 of the closing head 3 and opening at its upper end into the chamber 34. The lower end of the pipe 23 depends downwardly into proximity withthe bottom of the gas chamber 3X. The lower end of the pipe 23 is cut at an incline for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

9 indicates a water separating chamber provided with orifices 9X and 9 respectively in the upper and lower walls thereof. 92 and 93 indicate pipes. The lower end 0f the pipe 93 is secured to the orifice 9X and the upper end of the pipe 92 in the orifice 9. The interior diameters of the pipes 92 and 93 are greater than the exterior diameter of the pipe thereby forming-an annular duct extending upwardly from the chamber 34 to the lower end ofthe elbow head 13, the chamber 9 being interposed intermediately of the length of such duct. 94 indicates a gland which is threaded on to the jupper end of the pipe 93 and provided with l:packing 95 to seal the joint between the upper end of the pipe 93 and the depending flange 13 of the elbow head 13.

It will be noticed that the inner part of the lamp, the body yof which is formed by the carbid chamber 3, is not attached to the water tank in any way. The lower 'portion of the truncated casing 2 forming the gas chamber 3X is provided with perforations 23. 24 indicates lugs extending inwardly from provided with notches sufficiently large to j" allow the lugs 24 to pass freely therethrough when the notches are brought into alinement with the lugs. 2G indicates an orifice formed in the center of the disk 25. 27 indicates a depending tubular portion extending from f the disk 25 and around the orifice 25. The gas pipe 23 extends freely through the tubular member 27 so as to form a surrounding annular space 2S.

16 indicates the body of the reflector which is designed to be supported so that the flame 13S of the burner always remains located in the focal point of the reflector. In order to so support the reflector I have provided the following mechanism.

1G and 162 lindicate a pair of studs extending outwardly from the side of the gland 13". 163 and 164 indicate a pair of brackets secured to the back of the reflector 16 and cach provided with arc-shaped slots 165, the arc of which is concentric to the center of the flame 13S or the focal point yof the reflector. The studs 16 and 162 extend through one of the slots 165 as clearly shown in Fig. 4L. extends tlnough the other slot 165 in the bracket 164c into `the internally threaded orifice 167 formed in the gland 165. 168 indi* cates a vertically disposed slot formed in the reflector through which the flame 138 extends in all positions of the reflector. It will thus be seen that by forming the slots 165 concentric with the focal center of the reflector, which coincides with the center of illumina-tion of the flame, that" it is apparent that at any angle within its range the reflector is reflecting light with a maximum efliciency and the changes of the direction of light rays are effected without changing the direction of the flame itself.

Having described the principal parts involved in my invention I will briefly describe the operation of the same.

The water tank 1 may consist of any suitable container water tight and opening at the top and filled nearly full of water. The carbid container formed by the casing may be of any suitable shape but it is here shown as before described as a truncated conc forming the carbid chamber 3 and gas chamber 3X. To vfill the lamp with calcium carbid the inner part of the lamp is removed` that is to say, the truncated casing 2 and pipes 1'0, 92. 93 and connected parts supported by the casing. Then `these parts are removed they Iare inverted. The disk 25 is removed by turning it until vthe notches 29 come opposite the lugs 24' when the disk may be withdrawn. The chamber 3 is then partially filled with calcium carbid 13@ 1G( indicates a set screw which 95 Cil and the disk replaced. The casing 2 is their lowered into the tank of water and the pressure of water forces the air trapped under the cone up into the carbid chamber 3 through the pipe 10 and out through the burner hole 176. As the air is gradually displaced in this manner by the water passing through the orii'ices 23 the water rises iu the expansion or gas chamber 3X past the loosely fitting disk 3 and into contact with the calcium carbid. The volume oit aretvlene gas is iunnediately generated which gas iforces the water down and away trom the carbid and out through the orilices `into the water tank again, the gas partially filling the expansion chamber 3*. fatter a short space Ot' time all the air has escaped and the acetylene gas iiows through the pipe 10, through the elbow head 13 and out through the hole 17G and may be ignitedto form the main flame. As the is consumed the water rises again in the expansion chamber coming again into contact with the calcium carbid so as to generate more gas thereby repeating the operation. rlhe amount of gas 'formed controls the water level in the expansion chamber SX and thereby automatically keeps sufficient gas generated to supply the burner by causing the water to advance or recede as the amount ot gas decreases or increases in the expansion chamber BX. lNhile the water in the expansion chamber 3X remains above the lower end of the pipe 23 this pipe and the chamber 34 and pipe 92 will be full ot water up to the level of water in the water tank 1. rllhis water surrounds the pipe carrying the hot gas and steam due to generation of acetylene and tends to cool the gas and condensed steam, the condensations trickling down the pipe 10 back into the carbid chamber. rlhis cooling and condensing operation has a great value in producing dry gas that burns more efficiently than when hot and moist.

ln the ordinary operation of a lampr of this type an excess quantity of gas is suddenlyformed due to the wetting of too much carbid which forces the water down and out through the expansion chamber 3*. It sul'lieient gas is formed it forces out all water when the gas is enabled to pass out through the oriiice 23 and to escape through the water in the tank 1 and into the atmosphere. To prevent this action the apparatus is provided to conduct any excess gas to the burner where it is consumed. This effect is produced as follows:

lVater is. forced down and out of the expansion chamber 3X. Then the level is below the lower end of the pipe 23 the gas passes up the pipe 23 through the bypass chamber 34 into the pipe 92 and into the water separating chamber 9. As before described the pipes 23 and 92 are partly full of water and the gas forces this water up the pipes ahead of it and into the water separating chamber allowing this water to spread out in a thin layer over the bottom of the chamber 9 and through which the gas bubbles up. The chamber 9 must of necessity be placed above the water level in the water tank 1 and be of such a capacity as to be able te contain a greater volume et water than the volume of water that may be forced into it. The excess gas after bubbling up through the water in the chambel 9 passes up through the pipe 93 and into the elbow 13 through the orilice 2() and then passes out through the ducts 17T so as to escape and impinge upon the side ot the gas flame so as to be ignited thereby and consumed. TWhen all the gas below the end ot the pipe 23 is conducted to the burner and consumed the water rises up in the expansion chamber 3X and seals this passage and all gas then passes through the pipe 10 to the main llame hole 176.

From this description it will be seen that lY have devised a very simple form of acetylene lamp in which the automatic regulation of the amount of gas generated takes place and in which the amount of gas so generated is controlled within narrow limits, in which the main gas pipe is formed straight from end to end so that when the plug 132 is removed it may be easily cleaned from all wet ash and other deposits which may cling to the interior of the pipe and thus tend to clog the same and in which the reflector and support therefor are provided whereby the light may be directed in any desired direction within certain limits so as to always give in all positions the same maximum lighting power without altering the direction of the flame.

ln Fig. 5, l have shown a modification of my construction of burner in which the elbow portion is provided with a burner arm extending in axial alinement with the burner for the purpose of providing a double light, one light extending in the opposite direction from the other, as described in connection with the remaining figures thereby forming a T-head.

ln this figure 25 indicates the elbow provided with a burner portion 26 corresponding to that described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and a burner arm 27 provided with a central oriiice 28 forming an extension of the oriice 134. Such orifice 28 is provided with an enlargement 29 provided with a threaded outer end and into which is secured a burner 30 having a central perforation 81. In the burner 30 it is not necessary to employ inclined ducts corresponding to the inclined ducts 177 hereinbetore described, as these are of sufcient capacity to take care of all excess gas.

In Fig. 1, the lower end of the pipe 23 is shown inclined. This is to allow the eX- cess gas to gradually feed into the pipe 23 and not to pass into it with a sudden rush which Would be the case if the pipe Were cut horizontally carrying the Water up with it.

The flange 3S hereinbefore described is provided so that any moisture, dust or Wet ash, is prevented from passing into and clogging the gas passage.

wWhat l claim as my invention is:

l. In. an acetylene gas lamp, the combination with a submerged generating chamber and a gas burner head, of a gas duct extending vertically from the generator to the burner head, an excess gas duet extending between the generating chamber and burner head and surrounding the main duct Whereby the excess gas in the generator, When its volume and pressure are suiicient to unseal the excess gas tube, will be conducted Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner to the burner to be consumed thereat, and a Water separating and expansion chamber located in the excess duet above the Water submerging `the generator.

2. An acetylene burner and generator comprising a tapering receptacle provided with upper and lower compartments, a head for the receptacle, a pipe depending from said head to the lower compartment, a disk separating the compartments having a depending sleeve encircling the pipe and spaced therefrom, a burner, a pipe therefrom extending through said head, and a duct encircling the latter pipe and spaced therefrom terminating Within said head, said head having a communicating passage between the depending pipel and the duct.

JAMES BEANS CUMMING.

Witnesses:

GLADYS IRWIN, GEORGE S. NUHAUSER.

of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

